Tuck In Top Device

ABSTRACT

A clothing assembly is provided. The clothing assembly comprises an undergarment removably attachable to an upper body garment. The undergarment and upper body garment are attachable such that, when attached, they prevent the upper body garment from coming untucked from pants, a skirt, or some other lower body garment to which the upper body garment is tucked into.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to undergarment devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to undergarments that may attach to a shirt, blouse, or other upper body covering, thereby holding it in place, and keeping it tucked into a user's lower garment such as pants, skirts, or shorts.

2. Description of Related Art

The problem of untucking of shirts and blouses during the daily activities of a wearer is a common problem. Currently, there are several solutions to this problem. The most common is called a bodysuit, which is a one-piece form-fitting garment that covers the torso and the crotch. The bodysuit often has sleeves and varying collars. A bodysuit is distinguished from the similar leotard by the use of straps, snaps, or hooks at the crotch. A bodysuit may be worn as a top for the smooth line it gives, or because it cannot become untucked from trousers or a skirt.

Another solution to keep upper clothing tucked in is called a shirt stay. Shirt stays (or shirt garters) are elastic straps that connect the bottom of a dress shirt to the socks or feet. There are two main varieties: those that loop around the foot and those that clip into the sock. All varieties have two clips at the top, one for the front and one for the back of the shirt. They are often used in military dress uniforms to prevent the shirt form untucking during the course of the day. However, a main downfall to the shirt stays is that they can easily come undone. Also, one cannot wear them with a skirt.

Therefore, what is needed is a device that may effectively and conveniently hold a shirt in a tucked-in position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.

In one aspect, a clothing assembly is provided. The clothing assembly has an upper body garment covering at least part of an upper body of an adult human wearer, and an undergarment removably attached to the upper body garment. The undergarment may be formed of two flaps—a front flap and a back flap, the front flap and the back flap each having a narrow end and a wide end. The flaps are removably connected together at narrow ends in a crotch area of the wearer. As such, the front flap and back flap are removable from each other without being removed from the upper body garment.

When this aspect is worn, the front flap wide end is removably attached to a lower inside front of the upper body garment, and the back flap wide end is removably attached to a lower inside back of the upper body garment. Once the undergarment is connected to the upper body garment, a user may put it on and connect the undergarment narrow ends together under the crotch area, thereby securing the assembly in place on the wearer. The assembly further has a lower body garment covering at least part of a lower body of the wearer, and covering the undergarment. As worn, the lower portion of the upper body garment, including the lower front and lower back are tucked into the lower body garment, such that they are between the wearer's body and the lower body garment. The upper body garment is thus held tucked in place by its connection to the undergarments.

In another aspect, a clothing system is provided. The clothing system has a plurality of upper body garments each configured to cover at least part of an upper body of an adult human wearer, and a plurality of undergarments, each removably attachable to each of the plurality of upper body garments. As worn, one of the plurality of upper body garments covers at least part of the upper body of the adult human wearer, and one of the plurality of undergarments is positioned on the wearer over their crotch. The undergarment is removably attached to the upper body garment. Further, each undergarment is formed of two flaps—a front flap and a back flap, the front flap and the back flap each having a narrow end and a wide end. The front flap and back flap are removably connected together at narrow ends in the crotch area of the wearer, and connected to the upper body garment at their wide ends. These flaps are removable from each other at their narrow ends without being removed from the upper body garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides an elevation view of an embodiment of the undergarments portion of the invention.

FIG. 2 provides an elevation view of an embodiment of the upper body covering portion of the invention.

FIG. 3 provides an elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 provides an elevation view of an embodiment of the present invention in a partially disassembled position.

FIG. 5 provides an elevation view of another embodiment of the upper body covering portion of the invention.

FIG. 6 provides an elevation view of an embodiment of the undergarments portion of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.

Generally, the present invention concerns a clothing assembly comprising an undergarment connectable to an upper body garment in a manner capable of preventing the upper body garment from coming untucked either fully, or partially (causing an undesireable folded or bunched up look) from a lower garment. The undergarment is attachable and detachable to the upper body garment directly, and in most embodiments is itself formed of two separate and detachable pieces. In a particular embodiment, the undergarment comprises hook and loop fasteners that allow it to removably attach to the upper body garment—which has corresponding connectors. The undergarment further is formed of two pieces that connect together, preferably at a bottom crotch area of the undergarment. The connection of the two pieces may be a button or similar connection. As such, a wearer can separate the two pieces of the undergarment when using the restroom, allowing the undergarment and upper body garment to remain connected.

In one embodiment as worn, the clothing system may be used as follows. The wearer may initially put on the upper body garment. Next, the front and back flaps may then be drawn upward towards the upper body garment. The front flap may be attached to the front of the upper body garment, and the back flap may be attached to the back of the upper body garment.

Once attached, the flaps may be connected to each other at their narrow ends in the crotch area. The upper body garment will then be held in place, and when a lower body garment is put on, the upper body garment will remain tucked into it, between the wearer and the lower body garment. In another embodiment, the wearer may attach the front and back flaps to the upper body garment before putting it on, and once the upper body garment is worn, the user may connect the front and back flaps of the undergarment together under the crotch area.

The present invention is superior to the prior art for a number of reasons. For example, because the undergarment and upper body garment are detachable, a plurality of different undergarments and a plurality of different upper body garments may be used in a clothing system, such that the wearer may mix and match undergarment and upper body garment. This mixing and matching may be done while one of the two garments remains on the wearer. Moreover, the undergarments of the present invention may be used with any upper body covering that may be retrofitted to attach to the undergarments.

The upper body garments discussed herein may be any clothing item or similar garment that at least partially covers an upper body of the wearer. Examples of upper body garments contemplated herein include, but are not limited to shirts, blouses, T-shirts, button down shirts, tank tops, sweaters, undershirts, and the like.

The undergarments discussed herein may be any clothing item that is worn under clothing and generally touching the skin of the wearer. These undergarments cover the genitals and buttocks of a wearer. Examples of undergarments contemplated herein include, but are not limited to panties, thong underwear, briefs, and the like. Undergarments contemplated herein may be made of any material capable of holding an attached upper body garment in position. For example, undergarments may be made of fabrics, plastics, leather, and the like. In many embodiments, the undergarments may be flexible and stretchable. In another embodiment, the undergarments may be worn over other traditional undergarments.

One particular advantage of the present invention is that a normal upper body garment may be easily retrofitted to be attachable to the undergarment of the present invention. For example, a typical blouse may be configured to have connectors attached to it that may connect to the undergarment. In a particular embodiment wherein the undergarment comprises hook and loop connectors, a user may attach a corresponding hook and loop strip to their existing blouse—on the inside front and back. As such, the existing blouse may now be attachable to the undergarments and thus kept tucked in. In some embodiments, the attachment of the connector to the upper body garment may be non-permanent, such as an iron-on adhesion. In such embodiments, a user may remove the connectors from the upper body garment, thereby returning it to a standard garment.

In another embodiment, the upper body garment itself may be made of, or have a region made of hook and loop material. In this embodiment, no additional modifications are required to attach the undergarment to the upper body garment.

Turning now to FIG. 1, an elevation view of the undergarment of the present invention is shown in a disassembled position. The undergarment is formed of two parts—a back flap 12 and front flap 10. These are both fairly similarly shaped, but not necessarily so. In many embodiments, the front flap may be significantly shorter than the back flap. The front flap 10 has a wide end 34 and a narrow end 30, with inwardly curving sides 22, 24 between the ends. Similarly, the back flap 12 has wide end 36 and narrow end 32, with inwardly curving sides 26, 28. In other embodiments, the undergarment may have a different shape, such as straight sides. As such, each flap has a wide portion that is wider than a narrow portion on its opposite side. Fasteners 14, 16 on the narrow ends 30, 32 of the front flap 10 and back flap 12 mate together, joining the two flaps of the undergarment. These fasteners 14, 16 are separable and when the flaps are connected to the upper body garment, allow a wearer to use the restroom without having to separate the undergarment from the upper body garment. The fasteners 14, 16 are shown as two rows of three snap buttons. However, it should be understood that different button or other fastening device configurations, and other fastening devices may be used without straying from the scope of this invention.

At the wide end of the front flap 34 is a front flap attachment region 18 shown here as a hook and loop connector strip. This region is configured to attach to a corresponding connection area of the upper body garment. Similarly, at the wide end of the back flap 36 is a back flap attachment region 20 shown here as a hook and loop connector strip. This region is configured to attach to a corresponding connection area of the upper body garment. While the attachment regions 18, 20 are shown on an outside of the undergarment, the invention may work equally well with the attachment regions on the inside of the undergarment. The hook and loop strips 18, 20 may be permanently (or non-permanently) attached to the flaps by stitching, iron-on adhesive, or any other connection.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a blouse upper body garment of the present invention. The blouse has a lower front portion 42 shown here folded upwardly. On the lower front portion 42, two detachable hook and loop strips 38 are positioned to receive corresponding hook and loop connectors of the undergarment (FIG. 1) one strip 38 on each side of the buttons of the blouse. Similarly, the blouse has a lower back portion 44. A detachable hook and loop strip 40 is positioned to receive corresponding hook and loop connectors of the undergarment (FIG. 1). The hook and loop strips 38, 40 may be permanently (or not permanently) attached to the garment such as by stitching, and the like, or they may be detachable, as shown, and attached to the garment via a hot iron adhesion, or similar removable connection. While the connectors 38, 40 are shown as hook and loop connections, it should be understood that any connector may be used. For example, buttons, snaps, re-usable adhesives, magnets, and the like may all be used as connectors 38, 40. Preferably, the connectors 38, 40 will be below a waist of the wearer, and also at or below the highest point of the undergarment when worn. In one embodiment having a stretchable undergarment, the connectors 38, 40 may be slightly above the highest part of the undergarment such that the undergarment is stretched slightly when attached.

In a further embodiment, not shown, a secondary reinforcing connector may further attach the flaps to the upper body garment. For example, a second hook and loop connection may be positioned on a back flap of the undergarment and may have a corresponding second connector on the back of the upper body garment. As such, the two connectors will be more resistant to releasing than a single connector. In a particular embodiment, the secondary connector may be smaller than the main connector.

FIG. 3 provides a view of an embodiment of the undergarment and upper body garment. The blouse is shown in an open position, exposing the lower front 42 and back 44. Connector strips on the blouse 38, 40, and the front flap attachment area 18 of the undergarment are nearly in position, and once aligned and connected, will hold together, keeping the blouse tucked into a lower body garment such as pants, skirt, shorts, trousers, and the like. In one embodiment, the connector strips on the blouse 38, 40 are narrower than the attachment areas on the undergarments, preventing irritation on the wearer's skin. While not shown, it should be understood that the back flap is similarly attachable to the rear of the upper body garment.

FIG. 4 provides a view of an embodiment of the undergarment and upper body garment connected together, with the narrow crotch region of the two flaps separated. In this configuration a wearer may easily use the restroom while keeping the undergarments attached to the upper body garment. The fasteners 14, 16, shown here as buttons, are separated, and re-attachable.

FIG. 5 provides another embodiment of an upper body garment. In this view, the connection areas 48, 50 of the lower front 42 and lower back 44 are substantially larger than the flap attachments of the undergarment (FIG. 1). In a particular embodiment, the connection areas 48, 50 may have a width that is approximately 5-10 times the width of the flap attachments of the undergarment. This allows a wearer to have flexibility of where, height-wise on the upper body garment, the undergarment is attached.

FIG. 6 provides another example of a men's undergarment. The men's undergarment 60 is shown here as briefs. A hook and loop attachment region 62 extends completely about the perimeter of an elastic waistband of the briefs 60. In a similar embodiment, the waistband itself may be made of a material that forms the hook and loop attachment region 62.

While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A clothing assembly comprising: an upper body garment covering at least part of an upper body of an adult human wearer; an undergarment removably attached to the upper body garment, the undergarment being formed of two flaps- a front flap and a back flap, the front flap and the back flap each having a narrow end and a wide end, the front flap and back flap being removably connected together at narrow ends in a crotch area of the wearer, the front flap and back flap being removable from each other without being removed from the upper body garment; wherein the front flap wide end is removably attached to a lower inside front of the upper body garment; wherein the back flap wide end is removably attached to a lower inside back of the upper body garment; a lower body garment covering at least part of a lower body of the wearer, and covering the undergarment, wherein the lower inside front and lower inside back of the upper body garment are tucked into the lower body garment, such that they are between the wearer's body and the lower body garment.
 2. The clothing assembly of claim 1 wherein the front flap and back flap are connected to the upper body garment by a hook and loop connector.
 3. The clothing assembly of claim 2 wherein the front flap and back flap are connected at their narrow ends by a snap connection.
 4. The clothing assembly of claim 2 wherein the front flap and back flap are connected at their narrow ends by two rows of three snap connectors.
 5. The clothing assembly of claim 1 wherein the front flap and back flap form panties.
 6. The clothing assembly of claim 1 wherein the front flap and back flap form a thong.
 7. The clothing assembly of claim 1 wherein the undergarment is formed of a flexible and stretchable material.
 8. The clothing assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper body garment is a blouse.
 9. A method of forming the upper body garment of claim 1 comprising the steps of: obtaining a traditional upper body garment having no interior connectors; attaching a first hook and loop connector strip to the lower inside front of the upper body garment; attaching a second hook and loop connector strip to the lower inside back of the upper body garment; selecting the first hook and loop connector strips to be removably attachable to the front flap wide end; and selecting the second hook and loop connector strips to be removably attachable to the back flap wide end.
 10. The clothing assembly of claim 2 wherein the back flap comprises two strips of hook and loop connectors removably attached to two strips of corresponding hook and loop connectors on the lower inside back of the upper body garment.
 11. The clothing assembly of claim 1 wherein the front flap and back flap are asymmetrical.
 12. The clothing assembly of claim 1 wherein the front flap and back flap are only connected at their narrow ends.
 13. The clothing assembly of claim 2 wherein the hook and loop connector on the front flap wide end is wider than the corresponding hook and loop connector attached to the lower inside front of the upper body garment.
 14. The clothing assembly of claim 13 wherein a hook and loop connector on the back flap wide end is wider than a corresponding hook and loop connector attached to the lower inside back of the upper body garment.
 15. A clothing system comprising: a plurality of upper body garments each configured to cover at least part of an upper body of an adult human wearer, one of the plurality of upper body garments covering the at least part of the upper body of the adult human wearer; a plurality of undergarments, each removably attachable to each of the plurality of upper body garments, one of the plurality of undergarments removably attached to the one of the plurality of upper body garments, the one of the plurality of undergarments being formed of two flaps—a front flap and a back flap, the front flap and the back flap each having a narrow end and a wide end, the front flap and back flap being removably connected together at narrow ends in a crotch area of the wearer, the front flap and back flap being removable from each other without being removed from the upper body garment; wherein the front flap wide end is removably attached to a lower inside front of the one of the plurality of upper body garments; wherein the back flap wide end is removably attached to a lower inside back of the one of the plurality of upper body garments; a lower body garment covering at least part of a lower body of the wearer, and covering the one of the plurality of undergarments, wherein the lower inside front and lower inside back of the upper body garment are tucked into the lower body garment, such that they are between the wearer's body and the lower body garment.
 16. The clothing system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of undergarments comprises a plurality of panties and a plurality of thongs.
 17. The clothing system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of upper body garments comprises a plurality of blouses, a plurality of shirts, and a plurality of sweaters.
 18. A method of using the clothing assembly of claim 1 comprising the steps of: putting on the upper body garment; putting on the undergarment; connecting the front flap to the upper body garment; connecting the back flap to the upper body garment; putting on the lower body garment; separating the front flap from the back flap by separating the removable connection between the two at their narrow ends under the crotch, the step of separating keeping the front flap and back flap connected to the upper body garment; and re-attaching the front flap and back flap.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the steps of connecting the front flap and connecting the back flap comprise pushing the front flap to the upper body garment such that a hook and loop connectors engage; and pushing the back flap to the upper body garment such that a hook and loop connectors engage
 20. A method of using the clothing system of claim 15 comprising the steps of: putting on the one of the plurality of upper body garments; putting on the one of the plurality of undergarments; connecting the front flap to the one of the plurality of upper body garments; connecting the back flap to the one of the plurality of upper body garments; removing the one of the plurality of undergarments from the one of the plurality of upper body garments and from the wearer; putting on a second of the plurality of undergarments; connecting the front flap of the second of the plurality of undergarments to the one of the plurality of upper body garments; connecting the back flap of the second of the plurality of undergarments to the one of the plurality of upper body garments; putting on the lower body garment; separating the front flap from the back flap of the second of the plurality of undergarments by separating the removable connection between the two at their narrow ends under the crotch, the step of separating keeping the front flap and back flap connected to the upper body garment; and re-attaching the front flap and back flap. 